Saratoga Beer Week 2012

The first annual Saratoga Beer Week starts this Thursday and flows all weekend during which pints will be filled, sampled, spilled, refilled, rinse and repeat.  The festivities last to Saturday night, and while it’s not exactly a week, who’s counting anyway?  With over 30 events happening all over Saratoga Springs, Beer Week is sure to please any beer-lover in your life.

If your man seems in need of some guy-time, send him out to some Saratoga Beer Week events to recharge.  During which, maybe you and the girls can enjoy brunch at Max London’s and a pedicure at Sanctuary Spa… seems like a fair trade to me.

While many of the Beer Week events are free of charge, there are special events including two Beer Summit events that include craft beers from around the country and specialty beers from around the world.  Summit tickets are $20 in advance or $30 at the door.  Other events include tastings at Saratoga Brewery, Longfellows, The Saratoga City Tavern, Parting Glass, Old Bryan Inn and many more locations.

Check out the full schedule of events to plan your Beer Weekend in Saratoga NY!

To get you even more excited, our friends over at Modern Mix Marketing put together this cool video about both Saratoga Beer Week and this Saturday’s SPAC Winter Ball.

I’ve never been a very efficient grocery shopper, though I have been getting better, thanks to some Meal Planning tips and Once-A-Month-Cooking!  My typical week includes at least one stop at Price Chopper in Malta, NY, Aldi in Ballston Spa, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, and whatever other food place I pass that strikes my fancy!  Today Miss-Organized shares some tips on how to better prepare for a trip to the supermarket and includes some printables to get you going!

 Grocery Shopping in Saratoga: Shop more efficiently & spend less money!

Have you ever come home from the grocery store and realized you forgot something?

Have you started putting items away and realized you already had some of that item?

Do you ever spend way more money than you anticipated by purchasing items you didn’t really need?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then you may benefit from creating a master grocery shopping list!

All you need is one hour to get your customized grocery list organized.  Follow these simple steps to create your list and say goodbye to the days of running back to the market for that item you forgot and to spending money on “impulse grocery items”!

1. Go through your pantry, refrigerator, freezer, kitchen cabinets, bathroom, laundry room, etc. and make a list of all the foods and products that you regularly use and would buy in the grocery store. Tip: If you never purchase toiletries in the grocery store follow these same steps to create your customized list for Target, Walmart, or wherever you shop for toiletries.
2. Create categories by grouping items together as you would find them in the grocery store. Some sample categories could include: Fruit, Vegetables, Dairy, Meats, Drinks, Frozen Foods, Snacks, Condiments, etc. Tip: Leave some blank lines in each category for some occasional extra items. Also create a Miscellaneous category for those random items.
3. Type the list up on your computer and save it so you can easily update the categories and print as needed!
4. Keep one copy on or near your refrigerator so you can check items off as you run out or begin to run low on the item.

If you don’t have the time or desire to create your own customized grocery list you are in luck because there are a ton of grocery shopping list templates online that you can simply print out! Check out these great templates from www.grocerylists.com.  Here are two printables: The Ultimate Grocery List on the top, and below it is the Vegetarian Grocery List.  Enjoy!

Now that you have your customized grocery shopping list…don’t forget to bring it with you to the grocery store!

Happy shopping!
~Miss-Organized

My name is Susanna and I am Miss-Organized! I operate a professional organizing service in Saratoga County.
Visit www.missorganizedny.com to see what we are all about. You can also find me on facebook where I regularly post tips and tricks and inspiring ideas to get you organized! If you are interested in setting up a free organizing consultation call 518-221-4297 or email us at missorganizedny@yahoo.com.

Welcome to my first blog post on SaratogaMama.com!  My name is Karen Charbonneau of Building Wellness and my goal is to provide families in Saratoga County with healthy lifestyle tips to help accomplish the following: to remove the toxins from your household, to suggest ways to get proper nutrition, proper rest, and ways to remove the “issues in the tissues”.

From my experience, living healthier doesn’t mean you have to make major life modifications or will cost you an “arm and a leg”.  Okay, some modifications can be expensive, however raising a healthy family can be done in many financially affordable ways.  My goal will be to provide you with many options so you can make educated decisions to suit your lifestyle.

School Vacation week in Saratoga County – Now what!?

Next week is school vacation for most children in the Saratoga area.  Here are some recommendations to help make a healthy and energized week for you and your kids.

• Create a schedule with enough breaks and “rest” times.  The constant activity is fun but little breaks during the day go a long way.
• When making your grocery list, look to prepare for healthier snacks on the go.  Fruit such as bananas, grapes, and apples are easy to eat on the go and much better for your health than a cookie, chips, or a junk-food choice.
• Prepare some snacks (with your kids) for the week; it’s a fun activity to do together.  Making cookies from a recipe does take a little longer but it is so worth it.  Have you ever cut back on the sugar in a recipe?  You’d be surprised how satisfying sweet snacks taste with only ½ or ¾ of the sugar from the original recipe.
• How about fruit smoothies?  Have your kids pick their favorite fruits and blend them with some Greek yogurt (lower in sugar) or simply water and ice.  Do not use yogurt with fruit already mixed in as the sugar content is considerably higher.
• Stay away from the high sugar drinks such as soda and coolattas.
• Pre-cut carrots sticks or celery in plastic bags or re-usable containers.  Cut them up yourself, it only takes a couple of minutes and so much more affordable.
• Looking for activities to fill the days? Check out SaratogaMama’s School Vacation Guide for ideas and events!
• Need a recipe idea?  Here’s a delicious Kid-Approved Granola Bar recipe here on SaratogaMama!

If you anticipate enjoying more time next week with your children, plan your snacks before you do your shopping.  Eating healthier will help keep you and them out of the doctor’s office.

Be Well!
~Karen

I am Karen Charbonneau and my business is Building Wellness.  I moved to Saratoga Springs in 2010.  With my first visit to Saratoga Springs, I felt the healing energy and the desire of people to live a healthy life.  My passion is to provide information to help prevent the onset of disease–one of my main reasons for choosing the Saratoga Springs community. My blog posts will address toxins that need to be removed from your life, to allow your body to heal itself, and result in a longer and healthier life.  As parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, or as individuals, let’s raise the awareness of living a healthier life. 

I’m pleased to introduce you to Amanda King from Strictly Saratoga!  Amanda will be bringing us a Weekly Wrap-Up about what’s happening in Saratoga NY and beyond.  Leave a comment and say hello to Amanda and welcome her to SaratogaMama.

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Not too much newsworthy happened this week but this is Amanda from over at Strictly Saratoga to tell you what’s up.

Cupid had a field day this week (though of course I hope that you got to spend time with your loved ones) – and decided to let some rather large crimes sneak by – children stealing cars and men having a whole lot of a certain type of “medicinal” plant.

Saratoga Concerts

Speaking of…it has been announced that Dave Matthews Band is returning to SPAC this summer – June 8 and 9th, if you’re interested. For me, that mostly means that I’m going to be avoiding going that route to Ballston Spa like whoa.

Saratoga Events and Local Happenings

If you were lucky enough to get tickets to the Mac’n'cheese bowl (I’m sure the kids would love you); it’s this Saturday from 11 to 2 down in Colonie.  If not, you could head to events much closer in the area – The Flurry Festival is this weekend in Saratoga, and they have a lot of performances and expos and just a whole boat load of fun for the entire family all of this (long) weekend – as it starts tonight. If you’d like to get details, check ‘em out here.

Looking even more forward in your planners (though not as far as DMB) if you or your husband is a fan of scotch, Sperry’s in Saratoga will be hosting Isle of Jura scotches at 6:30 PM on Thursday March 8th, or so says Steve Barnes over at Table Hopping (if you’re a fan of food and don’t follow him…start doing so!)

If you’re looking for a night on the town sooner than that, though, and like Cajun, New World Bistro in Albany will have Cajun specials now until Mardi Gras (which is next Tuesday).

But yeah, that’s about all the news that’s happened this week – real exciting, huh? Life will get more interesting as the days get longer, though. I’m keeping my eye on that new apartment building going up on Railroad and Division – I’m curious what all will be in that retail space – though we already know some.  The Price Chopper is moving over there, and apparently SpOT Cafe has a space there as well, though I haven’t heard of anything else.

Anyway, enough of me rambling. Enjoy your weekend in Saratoga, and I’d love to hear what’s going on with you and what you’re doing this weekend!

~Amanda,

Amanda King lives in Saratoga Springs, NY like (hopefully) a majority of you readers, but loves travel. She’s been to more countries than she is years old, but is, at the moment, quite content to stay firmly planted in upstate New York. Feel free to follow her on Twitter at @strictlytoga – though be warned, sarcasm does occur…when she manages to actually tweet.

February happens to be National Children’s Dental Month so I’m happy to introduce you to Pediatric Dentistry of Glens Falls.  Their brand new website is full of great info on kids and dental health.  PDGF is conveniently located in downtown Glens Falls (which has fabulous shops and restaurants too!) and really only 15 minutes from Saratoga NY.

I had a good feeling about Pediatric Dentistry of Glens Falls when I called to make our very first appointment.  The receptionist was friendly, took time to explain everything, went over policies, and let me know what to expect.

A few days later I received a welcome packet in the mail with forms and medical information to fill out in advance of our visit.  There’s nothing worse than showing up with an anxious child and having 20 minutes of paperwork to fill out.

When we arrived at our visit, check-in was a breeze and we sat down to wait and Angie got busy playing in the waiting room.  After a few minutes, we were called back to the exam room; a bright and open space with cool murals painted on the walls.

Our dental assistant explained everything to us and asked if we had questions.  I liked that the expectations for Angie (my one year-old) were realistic.  Our hygienist correctly predicted that Angie would cry, but it would only last a few seconds.  About 8 seconds later, teeth count, cleaning and flossing were done!

Enjoy February Break in Saratoga County!

With February break less than one week away, here’s a list of programs and a day-by-day overview of what’s going on and where!
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Monday, February 20th

Highlights include: Family movie at Saratoga Springs Public Library, Winter Scavenger Hunt at Wilton Wildlife Preserve, Messy Monday at The Wonder Room in Ballston Lake and more!

Tuesday, February 21st

Highlights include:  Victorian Tea at Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa, Family Movie at Round Lake Library Malta Branch, Family Concert at Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library and more!

Wednesday, February 22nd

Highlights include:  School Vacation program at The Hyde Collection, School Vacation program at The Wonder Room in Ballston Lake, and Artfull Afternoons at Saratoga Children’s Museum

Thursday, February 23rd

Highlights include: March of the Penguins at Wilton Wildlife Preserve, PJ Story Time at Round Lake Library Malta Branch, Silly Science at the Children’s Museum of Saratoga and more!

Friday, February 24th

Highlights include: Family Movie at Schuylerville Library, The Puppet People present: Legend of Sleepy Hollow at the Saratoga Springs Public Library and more!
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Check out the SaratogaMama Indoor Recreation Guide for even more ideas on drop-in play spots around Saratoga County!

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In addition to the drop-in programs above, here are some full week programs offered locally:

Saratoga Arts February Break Programs

- for children who love theater and the visual arts

Imagine That! - Ages 5-7   Monday – Friday, 9:00am  – 12pm  February 20-24
$130 for members / $140 for non-members

Get into the Act! - Ages 5-12  

Monday – Friday, 9am – 3pm  February 20-24
$200 for members / $215 for non-members

Saratoga Clay Arts Winter Break Wheel Boot Camp

Saratoga Clay Arts Center
167 Hayes Road
Schuylerville, NY  12871

Date: Feb 20 – 24
Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Spend your Winter break learning the basic fundamental techniques for throwing pots on the wheel with other children. No experience (just patience) required.  Create functional pieces such as bowls, cups, mugs and vases. Learn about surface decoration, glazing and firing. Have fun, learn and create during the school break.

What is The Flurry?

The Flurry is less than a week away in Saratoga Springs and once again, this year’s lineup is jam-packed with fun.  The Flurry serves as a showcase for the wealth of talented dance leaders and musicians from our area.

Combining traditional social dance and live music, The Flurry is a feel-good festival that livens up the Saratoga Hilton and the Saratoga City Center and other venues in Saratoga Springs for three days; February 17^th-19^th.

The Flurry Events

I spoke with Tamara Flanders, administrative director of this year’s Flurry Festival and got the scoop about this event that promises a little something for everyone.

From experience having attended The Flurry in the past, this is truly one of the best family events all year in Saratoga NY.  Combining multi-cultural music, dance and celebration and seeing people come together with a passion for the arts is very special.  Kids especially love this event and it is great to expose them to dance, music and culture. From hula hooping lessons, to drum circles, Zumba to Zydeco dance and Swing, The Flurry offers something for every level!

View the full schedule of events!

The Flurry features 400 Performers, 250 Events, in 5 Locations throughout Saratoga Springs:

• Saratoga City Center
• Saratoga Hilton
• Parting Glass Pub
• Saratoga Music Hall
• Caffe Lena

To say it is a bit overwhelming for a first time attendee is a bit of an understatement.  “Look at the schedule in advance and create your plan of attack,” Flanders advises.  The organizers work very hard to keep kids activities back to back and often in the same room.

“Dress in layers because you will get hot, bring snacks and water; preferably labeled with your name,” Flanders advises.

Full festival tickets, including Friday-Sunday are $95 for adults, kids 5 and under are free, 5 and up are just $3.  Saturday from 9am-7pm is $35 for adults and $1 for kids 5 and up, 5 and under free.  Additional ticket information can be found on The Flurry website.

Being the 25^th Anniversary of The Flurry, Tamara Flanders and her team of planners opted for a “back to roots” feel for the event which will feature some extra special performances and round table discussions to honor the 25th anniversary year.

Saratoga dance has its own culture and identity, but the Flurry Festival offers something for every level, from the total beginner to the advanced dancer. You may leave inspired to take dance lessons yourself!  There are lots of options for dance instruction in Saraotga County.  We love Premier Dance in Clifton Park (more info here).  One last word of advice, “be ready to have fun and keep an open mind!”  Flanders said.

 25th Annual FLURRY FESTIVAL
FEBRUARY 17 – 19, 2012
Headquarters: Saratoga City Center & Hilton Hotel
522-534 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY
www.flurryfestival.org

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Post Sponsored by: Premier Dance Performing Arts Center in Clifton Park, NY.  Premier Dance offers dance instruction, birthday parties, theater and voice classes and summer camp programs for kids of all ages.  

It’s that time of year!  Spring is right around the corner and we are starting to see the last round of winter colds hit the area.  Most of us know the first indications of a cold, such as: post-nasal drip, fatigue, headaches, cough and sore throat among many others.  Before you reach for the medicine cabinet, here are some natural remedies which have shown to help relieve symptoms and increase healing time.

1. Avoid certain foods, but add others!  Dairy, chocolate and processed foods are all mucus forming foods which can make symptoms worse.  However, fresh garlic and onion contain natural antibacterials and antivirals to help you ward off infection.  The aromas will also aid in opening the sinuses allowing you to breathe better!
2. Consider using a neti-pot. Available at most pharmacies (like CVS in Saratoga Springs), the neti-pot is a nifty little device which uses a saline solution to help drain your nasal passage and reduce sinus pressure/stuffiness. Don’t worry if you have never used one, each kit comes with thorough instructions!
3. Stay hydrated! Increase your water consumption. This does not include coffee, soda or juice which will dehydrate you more! Water will help thin the mucus and allow easier drainage. If you divide your body weight by 2 then put that number in ounces, that is how much water you should be consuming each day.  (Example: A 140 lb female should consume 70 oz of water)
4. Lymphatic drainage technique (See Video!). A fancy term for stimulating the lymph nodes in order to get rid of the junk!  In the video below, I show an quick way to help reduce the amount of lymphatic fluid or “swelling” found in our lymph nodes.  Lymph nodes are an important part of the immune system and help produce white blood cells to destroy bacteria, viruses and other foreign invaders. By stimulating them to drain, you are decreasing the amount of ‘junk’ or substances that linger around and keep us sick! If you want a professional to perform lymphatic drainage, there are some licensed massage therapists who specialize in this area.
5. Essential Oils. Many essential oils have quite the success rate with sinus problems.  Eucalyptus oil has great results with opening the airways. One of the best ways to use this oil is diffuse it into your bedroom (especially before sleep) or put a few drops in your shower and take several deep breaths.  Lavender is another good oil because it has shown to help relieve sinus headaches and possesses antiviral/antibacterial properties to fight off those little buggers!  These oils can be found at local Saratoga health food stores such as Four Seasons on Phila St. in Saratoga Springs.  (clinical note: Minor allergic reactions can arise with using essential oils.  If you are concerned about a reaction consult your doctor)

There are other alternative healing methods to help ward of colds and flus.  Chiropractic, acupuncture and proper nutrition among many others are useful modalities which enhance our body’s natural ability to be great!  Don’t settle for less!  Feel better TODAY!

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Dr. Beth Favro along with her husband Dr. Adam are a husband and wife Chiropractic team and own Turning Point Chiropractic  located in Saratoga Springs.  Dr. Beth specializes in pediatric and pre/post-natal care.  Dr. Beth and Dr. Adam are able to provide residents and guests of Saratoga NY the most comprehensive and up to date health care.

5 terrific prizes  - 5 winners – the Ultimate Saratoga Giveaway

We love our readers so much, that we wanted to show our appreciation with this Valentine’s Day Special from SaratogaMama!  We’ve rounded up five amazing items to offer the ultimate Saratoga Giveaway!  Each night at 8pm EST a new prize will be announced and you’ll have lots of chance to enter each day.  Each time you enter, you’ll increase your chances to win one of the five amazing prizes!  This is our way of saying Happy Valentine’s Day from our family to yours!

Special Saratoga Giveaway Days

Day 5: Stella & Dot!

One lucky winner will receive a $30 gift certificate to Stella & Dot courtesy of stylist Chelsea Baratto!

Stella & Dot offers gorgeous boutique-style jewelry and accessories available exclusively through in-home Trunk Shows by Independent Stylists like Chelsea Baratto.  From necklaces, bracelets, and rings to handbags and iPad cases, Stella & Dot offers a little something for everyone!  Enter to win a $30 gift certificate and work with Chelsea to pick out something fabulous for yourself.

Day 4: Decadent Diva!

One lucky winner will enjoy 12 Belgian Chocolate Covered Strawberries from Decadent Diva in Ballston Spa! ($40 value) 

Decadent Diva in Ballston Spa features the finest Gourmet Chocolate, perfect for gifting or enjoying yourself!  These delicious strawberries are dipped half in milk chocolate and half in dark chocolate and swizzled in pink and white.

Day 3: Chic Underneath!

One lucky winner will enjoy $30 to spend at Chic Underneath in Saratoga Springs!

Chic Underneath is a lingerie and waxing boutique located at 7 Spring Street in downtown Saratoga Springs.  A gorgeous boutique with bras, lingerie, sleepwear and more.  Owners Lauren and Kailyn are super nice and always willing to help.  We love Chic Underneath because in addition to being just a beautiful boutique to shop, the prices are surprisingly affordable!   Pick up something beautiful this Valentine’s Day at Chic Underneath.

Day 2: Maestro’s Restaurant!

One lucky winner will enjoy dinner at Maestro’s in Saratoga Springs with a $50 gift certificate!

Maestro’s At the Van Dam is an amazing Saratoga restaurant and one of my personal favorites.  With excellent food, a gorgeous atmosphere, a stone terrace to relax and dine/drink, and the extra special touches that make it great.  Maestro’s is the perfect destination to make your Valentine’s Day dinner special.

Day 1: Sanctuary Spa!

One lucky winner will enjoy a 30-minute Shellac Manicure at the amazing Sanctuary Spa in Saratoga Springs!  ($55 value) 

Shellac is the newest way to make your nails look perfect!  Shellac UV color coat results in chip-free, extended wear nail color.  It goes on like polish, wears like gel, and removes in minutes.  Lasts us to 14 days!   

Sanctuary Spa is located in the heart of downtown Saratoga Springs, just 1 block off Broadway at 72 Railroad Place.  Offering a wide range of treatments from massages, facials, waxing to medical services including Botox and laser treatments, Sanctuary Spa offers the finest treatments in a beautiful setting.

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 Enter to win!  Here’s how: (1 comment = 1 entry):

• ‘Like’ SaratogaMama on Facebook, Comment Here that you do = 1 entry
• Sign up for SaratogaMama e-news and Comment Here that you’ve done so = 1 entry
• Add SaratogaMama to your circle on Google Plus & Comment Here= 1 entry
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Want more chances to win? Share the love!

• Share SaratogaMama with a friend on Facebook (who’s not already a fan), and you both will get an entry!  Friend must leave your name as a wall post comment.  =   Unlimited Entries!  
• Share this giveaway post on Facebook using the Share button below and Comment Here = 1 entry per day (6 entries total) 

Four mothers from different corners of Saratoga County (Schuylerville, Malta, Saratoga & Ballston Spa) come together for a night of cooking, snacking, drinking and laughing.  This is a typical OAMC night and you NEED to give it a try!

OAMC as I’ve discussed in a previous blog post is Once A Month Cooking.  In our particular club, it works like this.  Each of us arrive with the ingredients to make one meal times four.  For example, four lasagna’s, four chicken taco soups, etc.  We prepare meals together then each leave with our own meal, plus three others.

We dedicate one Friday night per month to OAMC and in addition to being a fun ‘mama night out’, we accomplish so much!

Helpful tips to start your own OAMC Cooking Club:

• Our group has four mama’s, which is a good number.  We’ve contemplated adding to the group, but it would just get way too crazy in the kitchen.  Find other mama’s in your network that would like to participate and pick a night!
• Find out in advance what food allergies or aversions your other members and their families have.  You can make your OAMC group be all vegetarian, restrict red meat, or whatever other ground rules you’d like to settle on.
• Someone needs to volunteer their kitchen and cooking tools (pots/pans/knives/cutting boards).  In our case, we use the same mama’s kitchen each time which makes it easy to remember where certain pots and pans are.
• Each attendee brings all the ingredients to make their meal; from spices to meats, veggies to chicken broth.  It’s helpful to bring any odd kitchen tool you’d need, such as an immersion blender or wok just in case the host kitchen doesn’t have it.
• Everyone brings containers for their meal.  Most freezer meals can be stored in gallon Ziploc bags, but some you will need plastic containers.  Bring what you need to store your meal and instructions on how to reheat or prepare.
• Almost any recipe will work!  We’ve had success with soup, casserole dishes, stuffed shells, pasta dishes, fish, enchiladas, quiche’s, and just about anything you can imagine!  Websites like Once A Month Mom, and even AllRecipes can be great sources to find recipes.

In addition to the actual meal-prep, we enjoy background music, light appetizers, wine/tea/coffee, and usually end the night with a dessert together when we’re all done.  Expect your OAMC night to take at least a few hours depending on how complicated the meals are.  For us, it’s just fun to get together so the time flies.  This is obviously one of those, ‘better without the kids’ activities.  Remind your spouse that you’ll be bringing home some delicious meals!

I’d be happy to answer any questions about OAMC so leave your comments here!  I’m certainly no expert, but I’ve had such a positive experience with it, that I’d be thrilled to help you get started.